Golf swing training device

ABSTRACT

A small light weight golfers aide comprising a case about the size of a conventional telephonic pager attachable to a golfer and housing user programmable means for generating time duration controllable low level vibrations or light patterns indicative of a preferred golf swing tempo for the golfer.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to apparatus for training golfers to improve and maintain the tempo of their golf club swing and, more particularly, to an improved golf swing training device for enabling golfers to maintain a preferred tempo for their golf club swings under playing as well as practice conditions.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] It has been realized for some time that consistency in the tempo of a golfer's swing under varying game conditions is essential to improvement in a golfers overall game and in reducing a golfer's scores. In the past, audio and visual training aides have been developed to improve the consistency of the tempo of a golfer's swing by providing audible and/or visual signals that guide the golfer during the back and down swings of his or her golf club. Unfortunately, such training aides are suitable for use only under controlled practice conditions. Under game conditions, however, a golfer is to keep his or her eyes on the ball as the ball is addressed and during the back swing, upper pause and downswing of the golf club to insure that the club head properly strikes the ball. This requirement renders prior visual signal training practically useless under game conditions.

[0003] Prior audio-signal training aides also suffer several drawbacks. Those systems that require a loud speaker to generate a sound signal for the golfer interfere with the golfers mobility on the course and are distracting to other golfers. Those systems which utilize a head set connected by an electrical lead to an audio source often interfere with the swing pattern of the golfer wearing the training aide and therefore distract rather than assist the golfer during game conditions. In fact, any audio headset or earpieces are likely to function as a distraction to the golfer while swinging his or her club.

[0004] The following United States patents describe such prior art visual and audio training aides: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,577,868; 4,583,738; 5,040,790; 5,082,281; 5,558,519; 5,743,807; 5,871,406; 5,984,799; 6,040,517; 6,179,723; and 6,517,352.

[0005] Recently, a shock device has been proposed for sending a periodic electrical shock signal to the wrist of a golfer as a means of prompting the golfer during the swinging of his or her golf club. Japanese publication JP3-128073 describes such a system. Certainly, the periodic shocking of a golfer is counter productive to the creating of a smooth consistent golf club swing.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] The present invention comprises a small, lightweight, electromechanical golfers' aide contained in a case about the size of a telephonic pager. The case is attachable to the body of the golfer as by a belt clip or other suitable means. Upon command, the golfers' aide generates low level physical vibration patterns of user adjustable time duration which are physically sensed by the golfer as being indicative of a preferred golf club swing tempo for the golfer comprising a preferred back swing duration, upper club pause time, and preferred club downswing and follow through duration. The preferred vibration pattern time durations are programmable by the golfer to his or her preference taking into account the golfers' physical stature, the size and type of golf club and the playing conditions of the course being or to be played.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007]FIGS. 1A-1D are front, right side, top and left side views of the case housing the golfers' aide of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the case with the front cover removed and showing the layout of circuit components for the golfers' aide.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the golfers aide.

[0010]FIG. 4 are timing diagrams of one of the vibration and light patterns generated by the golfers' aide indicative a golfers' preferred golf swing tempo including preferred back swing, upper club pause and downswing time durations.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a detailed circuit diagram for the golfers aide.

[0012]FIG. 6 is a functional flow diagram indicating the various modes of operation of the golfers aide of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0013] In the drawings, the golfers' aide of the present invention is depicted by the number 10. The golfers' aide 10 comprises a small, light weight hand-holdable case 12 attachable to the body of a golfer. The case 12 houses means 14 for generating low level physical and/or light patterns and user selectable means 16 for programming the operation of the means 14 to generate either low level physical vibration or light patterns of adjustable time durations indicative of a users golf club swing tempo.

[0014] As described herein, a golf club swing starts with the golfer addressing a ball with the head of a golf club and comprises a golf club back swing to an upper club pause position followed by a club downswing and follow through during which the ball is hit by the head of the golf ball.

[0015] As will be described hereinafter, by use of the golfers' aide 10 of the present invention, a golfer is able to preset or program real time the operation of his or her golfers aide 10 to generate vibration and/or light patterns indicative of a number of different swing tempos each of which comprise a user selected back swing time duration, upper pause time and down swing and follow through time duration which the golfer considers as being preferred for the golfers physical stature, type and size of golf club and golf course conditions presented to the golfer. By virtue of the low level vibration patterns generated by the golfers aide 10 and physically sensed by the golfer, the golfer is guided to conform the tempo of his or her golf club swing to the preferred back swing, upper pause time and downswing time durations he or she has selected for the preferred tempo of the golf club swing.

[0016] More particularly, as depicted in FIGS. 1A-1D, the case 12 is formed of a lightweight plastic material and is about the size of a common telephonic pager. The case is attachable to a golfer as by a belt clip 18 secured to a backside 20 of the case.

[0017] A front side 22 of the case 12 houses or supports a conventional LCD display 24 upon which the different user programmed time durations for the golfers' back swing (BS), top of back swing pause (TOP) and downswing (DS) are selectively displayed. By way of example, the users selected time durations for the back swing BS, pause time TOP and down swing DS shown in FIG. 1A are 1200, 500 and 1800 units of time respectively. These time durations are controllable by the golfer simply by pressing the “up” and “down” directed arrow buttons of the back swing (“BACK”) and down swing (“DOWN”) momentary switches 26 and 28 on the front side 22 of the case 12. For example, if the golfer, considering for example his or her physical stature, golf club selection and/or golf course condition, believes that the golf club swing tempo should be modified to change the back swing time duration to 1300 units of time, he or she simply presses the “up” indicating button of the BACK momentary switch 26 to effect an increase in the displayed back swing time duration to “1300”. Similarly, if the golfer believes that the preferred swing tempo should be changed to reflect a down swing time duration of only 1700 units of time, he or she simply presses the “down” indicating button of the DOWN momentary switch 28 to effect a reduction of displayed down swing time to “1700”. In these regards, to setting operation of the golfers' aide 10 is much like the setting of a conventional digital clock or video channel or volume selector.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1A, the display 24 also indicates whether the golfers' aide 10 is in either a manual (“MANU”) or automatic (“AUTO”) mode of operation. Such modes of operation are controlled by the golfer touching the button of a “AUTO”/“MANU” momentary switch 30 on the front side 22 of the case 12. In the manual mode of operation, the golfers' aide 10 may require manual operation of a “MANU ACT” switch 32 on a top side 34 of the case above the display 24 to initiate each tempo swing control of the golfers' aide 10 as previously described. In the automatic mode of operation, the golfers' aide recycles its swing tempo operation as described above until the “AUTO”/“MANU” switch 32 is changed to a manual mode of operation or until the golfers' aide is turned off by a pressing of a “On-Off POWER” switch 36 on the upper left side 38 of the case 12 to an “Off” condition.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1A, the front side 22 of the case 12 also supports a semicircular array of seventeen light emitting diodes (LEDs) 40 which may be energized to provide a visual display of the swing tempo selected by the golfer using the switches 26 and 28 as described above. The energizing of the LEDs is under control of a “LED”/“VIB” momentary switch 42 on the front side 22 of the case 12. By pressing the switch 42 the golfer may select between a visual mode (“LED”) and a vibratory mode (“VIB”) of operation for the golfers' aide 10.

[0020] In the LED mode of operation, the LEDs will be energized in a sequence corresponding to the swing tempo programmed by the golfer as previously described. For example, for the swing tempo displayed by the LCD display 24 in FIG. 1A, when the power switch 36 is activated with the switch 42 in the LED position, the LEDs will light in the timing sequence indicated in FIG. 4. That is, after a short time interval indicated by the time T1, the lowermost LED 40 a will light and stay lit for the time T2 signaling to the golfer that he or she should be addressing the ball with the head of a golf club. After a time indicated by T3, the programmed back swing duration will commence with the LEDs 40 b-i lighting in timed succession indicative of the duration of the back swing T4. The LED 40 i will remain lit for the time T5 indicative of the upper pause time for the golf club. Following T5, the LEDs will then light in a reverse sequence from LED 40 i to LED 40 a and continuing from LED 40 j to LED 40 q during the time T6 indicative of the down swing ands golf club follow through time duration. If the golfers' aide is in its manual mode of operation as previously described, once the LEDs have completed the above-described cycle of operation, the LEDs will turn off awaiting a restart by activation of the manual actuation switch 32. If the golfers' aide 10 is in its automatic mode of operation as previously described, the foregoing LED operation will continue to repeat until the manual/automatic switch 30 is changed to the manual mode or the power on/off switch 36 is deactivated.

[0021] As described above, the LED mode of operation of the golfers' aide 10 may be particularly useful as a visual support to the golfer is selecting the settings for or programming operation of the golfers' aide. In that regard, the LEDs operate to provide a timed sequence of light operation visually indicative of the swing tempo which the golfers is setting as he or she is programming the golfers' aide 10.

[0022] When the LED/VIB switch 42 is in its VIB mode, the golfers' aide 10 is placed in a vibratory mode of operation wherein the means 14 contained within the case 12 produces low level physical vibration patterns of user selectable time durations such as illustrated in FIG. 4. The physical vibrations produced by the means 14 are of a low level, for example, somewhat greater than the level of physical vibrations generated by a conventional electric razor. Such vibrations are physically sensed by the golfer as timing patterns for the swing tempo of his or her golf club including back swing, upper pause and downswing of a golf club.

[0023] More particularly, for the timing sequence of physical vibrations illustrated in FIG. 4, after a short time interval indicated by the time T1, a first series of physical vibrations of time duration T2 is generated by the means 14 signaling to the golfer that he or she should be addressing the ball with the head of a golf club. After a time indicated by T3, a time duration programmed series of physical vibrations is generated by the means 14 indicative of a back swing duration T4. At the end of the back swing indicative vibrations, vibrations will cease for the time period T5 indicative of the upper pause time for the golf club. Following T5, the means 14 will resume generation of vibrations for the time T6 indicative of the down swing and golf club follow through time duration. If the golfers' aide is in its manual mode of operation as previously described, the means 14 will then remain in a dormant state awaiting a restart by activation of the manual actuation switch 32. If the golfers' aide 10 is in its automatic mode of operation as previously described, the foregoing vibration operation will continue to repeat until the manual/automatic switch 30 is changed to its manual mode or the power on/off switch 36 is deactivated.

[0024] More specifically as to the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the block diagram thereof depicted in FIG. 3 and detailed circuit diagram of FIG. 5, the golfers aide 10 is powered by two 1.5 volt AAA batteries 44 which by operation of the power switch 36 and a conventional DC/DC converter 46 develop a 3 volt Vcc supply power for the golfers' aide 10; the converter 36 being depicted in FIG. 5 by the switching regulator U1, part number MSC7150-03 manufactured by OKI. As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5, the supply power Vcc powers the means 14 including the previously described LCD display 24 and LEDs 40 and a vibration driver 48 and vibration motor 50 as well MICOM, EEPROM memory and LED driver integrated circuits 52, 54 and 56 respectively. In FIG. 5, the LCD display 24 is labeled LCD1, and may be part number SEQ0363/03(A0) manufactured by Gemni; the LEDs 40 may be conventional LEDs such as those manufactured by UTC; the vibration driver 48 and motor 50 is labeled MO1 and may be part number 3R2.8 manufactured by Shin Kwang; the EEPROM memory integrated circuit 54 is labeled U2, and may be part number 24C02 manufactured by Atmel; the MICOM integrated circuit 52 is labeled U3, and may be part number KS88C2434 manufactured by Samsung; LED driver integrated circuits 56 are labeled U4 and U5, and may be part number 74LS138 manufactured by Fairchild; a crystal oscillator (“XTL”) 58 shown in FIG. 3 is labeled in FIG. 5 as X1 and may be a conventional 4 Mhz oscillator manufactured by Sunny. The physical layout of some of these components within the case 12 is depicted in FIG. 2 and the details for implementing the preferred embodiment of the present invention are understood by reference to the detailed circuit diagram of FIG. 5.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, basically the EEPROM memory 54 stores tables of instructions for the MICOM 52 indicative of various options which the golfer user of the golfers' aide may select in presetting the aide to display a golf club swing tempo preferred by the golfer. The presetting of the golfers' aide 10 is accomplished by the golfer pressing the “up” and “down” buttons of the switches 26 and 28 to control the time duration of the vibrations generated by the motor 50 under control of the driver 48 and indicative of the time duration for the back swing and downswing of golfers' club. Such settings are displayed by the LCD display 24 and may also be depicted by the operation of the LEDs 40 under control of the LED driver 58 in the manners previously described.

[0026] More particularly, the various functional modes of operation of the golfers' aide of the present invention are depicted in FIG. 6 by the steps labeled S1 through S26. In step S! the power switch 36 is activated. In step 2 the golfer selects the time values for the back swing and down swing time durations by pressing the “up” and “down” buttons of the switches 26 and 28 respectively. While the settings are being made the display 24 displays the back swing, upper pause and down swing time durations selected by the golfer in step S3.

[0027] In step S4 the golfer selects vibration or LED operation for the golfers' aide by controlling switch 42. If the vibration mode of operation is selected as depicted in step S5, the next step S6 is to select either automatic or manual operation for the golfers' aide by controlling switch 30.

[0028] If manual operation is selected as depicted in step S7, operation of switch 32 is required as depicted in step S8. As depicted in the preferred method of operation for the golfers' aide 10 illustrated in FIG. 6, such operation of the switch 32 will introduce a 3 second time delay in step S9 followed by operation of the motor 50 in the manner programmed by the golfer in step S2 to generate low level physical vibration patterns indicative of the preferred swing tempo for the golfer's club. According to the preferred method depicted in FIG. 6, such vibration patterns are repeated three time in step S10 before the golfer is required to activate switch 32 in step S11 to reactivate the manual mode of operation of the golfers' aide 10. Otherwise the manual mode of operation will end.

[0029] If automatic mode of operation is selected for the golfers' aide as depicted in step S12, a one second time delay is introduced into operation of the aide 10 in step S13 followed by the continuous vibration patterns in step S14 such as depicted in FIG. 4 and having time durations selected by the golfer by operation of the “up” and “down” buttons of switches 26 and 28 in step S2. At any point in time, the golfer may end continuous vibratory operation of the golfers' aide 10 by setting switch 39 to the manual mode of operation in step S15.

[0030] If the LED mode of operation for the golfers' aide 10 is selected in step 4, the aide enters its LED mode as depicted in step S16. Next the golfer can select either manual or automatic modes of operation for the aide as depicted in step S17. If the manual mode is selected by operation of switch 30, the steps of operation depicted by steps S18-S22 conform to those previously described for steps S7-S11. If the automatic mode is selected by operation of the switch 30, the steps of operation depicted by steps S23-S26 conform to those previously described for steps S12-S15. As previously suggested, such LED modes of operation may be useful in assisting the golfer in his or her presetting or resetting of the swing tempo indicated by the golfers' aide 10.

[0031] While in the foregoing, a preferred embodiment of the present invention and preferred modes of operation thereof have been described and illustrated in detail, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly the present invention is to be limited in scope only by the following claims. 

1. An aide for assisting a golfer in swinging a golf club with a preferred and consistent tempo, comprising: a case attachable to a body of a golfer; and means within the case for generating low level physical vibration patterns of adjustable time duration for sensing by the golfer as a preferred swing tempo for a golf club.
 2. The aide of claim 1 further comprising user programmable means for controlling the time durations of the vibration patterns.
 3. The aide of claim 2 further comprising a visual display means for displaying the time durations programmed by the user.
 4. The aide of claim 2 further comprising an array of light sources responsive to the user programmable means for visually displaying the preferred swing tempo for the golf club.
 5. The aide of claim 4 further comprising user operable means for activating either the array of light sources or the means for generating the vibration patterns.
 6. The aide of claim 2 wherein the means for generating the vibration patterns comprises electromechanical means including a motor.
 7. The aide of claim 6 further comprising a visual display means for displaying the time durations for the vibration patterns programmed by the user. 